BOXING: Ricky Hatton survived his first ever knockdown before battling back to a deserved points victory over Belfast hardman Eamonn Magee last Saturday night.

The MEN Arena was packed to the rafters for this eagerly-awaited domestic clash which saw the Irishman challenge our Tameside hero for his WBU World light-welterweight crown.

Hatton, his trainer Billy Graham, and everyone else in the Arena knew well in advance that Magee would provide the 'Hit-man's' toughest ever test, and there was almost stunned amazement barely a minute into the fight when a cracking left from Magee saw the champion on the deck for the first time in his 29-fight career.

In the second round Magee opened up and rocked Hatton with some crunching combinations to the head, but from the third round onwards the Ardoyne 'Terminator' seemed happy to keep his back to the ropes, soak up pressure, and maybe look for openings as the champion went for glory.

Hatton had plugged away bravely, put the work in and dictated the pace of the fight almost throughout, and nobody was surprised with the eventual outcome.

It was far from Hatton's most electrifying victory to date, but he retained his title for the sixth time and was relieved after the fight.

Hatton said: "I thought I put on a good boxing performance, but it was difficult.

"I wanted to keep him moving but he just stayed in his corner.

"Despite the early knockdown, I thought I was about three points up after six or seven rounds so I didn't think I needed to up the tempo.

"I know I can raise it another two or three levels though.

"You can't go out there and blast everyone out, but I used my brain and out-boxed him."

Hatton's fights are certainly becoming something of an occasion in British boxing circles these days. Almost 20,000 paying spectators inside an electric Arena included celebrities such as Steven Gerrard, Stuart Pearce and world darts champion Phil Taylor.